Marley Pipe Systems (Mining & Industrial)

Marley Sponsors AQUALIBRIUM, the SAICE-WRC Schools Competition 2012

August 2012 – As part of its commitment to making a difference through various educational initiatives that focus on the preservation of water for future generations and encouraging the youth to become part of this effort, Marley Infrastructure, a division of Marley Pipe Systems, was one of the major sponsors at this year’s SAICE-WRC Schools Water Competition.

The finals of the competition were held at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg on Friday 27 July 2012, where winners of the individual regional competitions came together in Johannesburg to battle it out for prize-money totalling more than R17 000-00.

To open the event, Marley’s Pranesh Maniraj addressed the students on the importance of water as a precious asset and the role of water reticulation as a means of saving this fundamental resource from one day running out. Professor Kobus van Zyl then briefed the students on what the competition would entail.

The teams of three students each were tasked with designing a model water distribution network that would distribute three litres of water equally between three points on the grid using two different diameter pipes and connection pieces. Each team had about an hour in which to design, build and operate their network and were judged according to a penalty system.

The champions for 2012 came from the Domino Servite School near Pietermaritzburg with a total of 160 penalty points conceded. The team of students consisted of Bianca Coetzee, Ntengo Memela and Zama Nyembe, whose ingenuity and practicality in design and execution is testament to the untapped talent that the younger generation has to offer for the future of engineering and for the infrastructure of our country.

In addition, Marley selected six aspiring engineers and civil engineers from the group of finalists to partake in “a day with Marley” which would give them the opportunity to spend a day with a Marley representative and gain valuable insight into the manufacturing environment and the practicalities of the industry.

Marley is proud to have been a part of this progressive and worthwhile venture and looks forward to contributing to many more efforts geared towards identifying learners who wish to become a part of this vital profession and walking the journey with them as they reach their dreams for a better South Africa.